Migrants Day: what has been done in the network

International Migrants Day is celebrated on 18 December, to raise awareness about the challenges and difficulties of international migration. Many Jesuit networks and institutions, which are continuously working to improve the situation of migrants and refugees, take advantage of this day to give more visibility to initiatives in order to raise awareness of the issue and call people to action.

The Society of Jesus has always shown a great commitment to migrants and refugees. In fact, walking with the excluded is one of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) and inspires us to the conversion of our own hearts, that makes us alive and sensitive to the suffering Christ in our midst. December 18 was celebrated as the day of visibility of migrants worldwide, and these are some of the actions carried out in the Jesuit network. If you know more, do not hesitate to tell us so that we can get to know and include them.

Some of the actions taken

The Jesuit Service for Migrants in Spain published its report Searching for a way out, which is an obligatory reference for the dignification of Spain’s southern border, always in search of a humane and safe migration policy. It can be downloaded here. 

On the other side of the Atlantic, the Jesuit Migrant Service of Chile presented its report Border Dynamics in Northern Chile. In addition, a mobile app has been launched for migrants and refugees living in Chile who need help, connecting them with professionals and volunteers.

The Jesuit Refugee Service in Latin America and the Caribbean presented the Regional Context Report 2020 on the human rights situation of migrants and refugees. It is available here (Spanish).

Precisely, the Jesuit Network with Migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean promotes, under the motto #MigrarHaciaLoExtraordinario (Migrating to the Extraordinary), the change of narratives regarding migrants as a way of proceeding to seek new horizons. #MigrarHaciaLoExtraordinario seeks to build two collective conversations: the first one seeks to build an image of a radically different world (the extraordinary); the other, from the continuous learning offered by the experience of walking with forced migration, provides what are the concrete commitments we are willing to give to move towards it (migration).

To conclude the first part of the campaign, a virtual festival was held with music, art and dialogue to involve us in this extraordinary world towards which we want to migrate. The Festival, called “Tantos Somos Um”, can be seen here.

This was also echoed by the Jesuit NGO Alboan, which focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, making visible alternatives that promote social justice and human rights, and claim the right to mobility.

The Jesuit Refugee Service invited us to understand, reflect and empathise with the situation in which these displaced people live. A Twitter thread was created to make their reality known.

The Jesuit NGO Entreculturas joined the visibility of refugees and migrants, collecting testimonies and actions carried out to help about 1,500 people at risk.

The Latin American Federation of Schools of the Society of Jesus, through the project Youth for Hospitality, promoted a day of dialogue and offering for migrants as a testimony of love and service. Hundreds of solidarity actions were “hung” on this Christmas tree.

The actions carried out are just another gesture of visibility in the great work that networks do in supporting migrants and refugees. On this date they remind us that we can all help and that, connected, the effect is multiplied. Sharing these initiatives with the network makes us more aware of the reality that happens beyond our local reach, and allows us to collaborate with these actions. The scope of the network is multiplying: together we are capable of doing greater things.

Join the network movement and if you know more cases, please share them with us.